Subaru offers a very sensible option for a daily driver car that is well equipped to handle winter weather driving up to the slopes. Subaru has become an iconic brand for those living in the snow country as well as those who are long fans of the brand dating back to their early days legacy of being a fun, sporty, off road capable car.
You don’t get all the excitement and performance of the Audi and BMW, but you do get the most ground clearance of 5.9 inches, a sturdy AWD traction drivetrain, and enough room to haul all of your gear. You’ll also save about $15k – $20k on the price tag which leaves you enough $ to pay for many, many great ski trips.
Although you Subaru offers 6 different trim options you really get a choice of 2 engine set ups including the Base and XT. The base engine is 2.5L 4 Cylinder with 183 HP, with a slogging 0-60 in 8 seconds. The XT does better with the 2.4L 4 Cylinder offering 260 HP and 0-60 in a respectable 6.1 seconds. Plan to spend about $32,000 for a well equipped version.
So, if you’re looking for a more practical and economical alternative to the Audi and BMW, the Subaru Legacy is a smart choice. You’ll get low maintenance, great durability and reliability, excellent range with 27 MPG, and a bit more ground clearance to handle the big snow events.
As with all vehicles, we do encourage you to go premium on snow tires. You should consider the Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 as it’s our top pick for balancing snow, wet, and dry conditions.